Company fined $300K after worker injured in a chilled meat storage area

JBS Australia Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $330 000 in the District Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.

The proceedings arose following a workplace incident on 14 July 2022, when a worker was injured after being struck by a forklift in a chilled storage area for processed meat.

It was reported that JBS Australia pled guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its health and safety duty to workers under section 19(1) of the Act.

The full judgement against JBS Australia can be read on the NSW Caselaw website. JBS Australia Pty Ltd has the right to appeal against its sentence.

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said: “SafeWork NSW remains committed to supporting industry and workplaces in keeping their workers safe, and encourages businesses with workers using mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery to engage with SafeWork NSW’s available guides and resources to help keep their employees safe.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Oleksandr Slobodianiuk